Big Eyes [2014] ★★★

After “Dark Shadows” and the animated feature “Frankenweenie“, director Tim Burton tackles something completely different for a change. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, he scores yet another bullseye by telling the real-life story of Margaret Keane, the woman whose paintings of sad, big-eyed children baffled America in the 1960’s. The only problem was that her husband Walter took credit for the work while she lived in his shadow. Burton paints an evocative picture of that era, while offering juicy roles to Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, two of the finest actors on the planet. And yet if you’re hoping for a big,old-fashioned biopic, you may come away disappointed. It’s true that once you absorb the tone of the film and acquaint yourself with its colorful characters, the movie has no big surprises in store. What does matter is that Burton pays tribute to a woman who struggled a lot before her artwork was finally recognized. Her qualities are rooted in truth and give the movie its foundation and power. “Big eyes” may not be revelatory in any way, but its credibility on every level makes it highly entertaining. So just enjoy it for what it is.